diff --git a/benedict/serializers/xls.py b/benedict/serializers/xls.py
index 64ce785..bb52999 100644
--- a/benedict/serializers/xls.py
+++ b/benedict/serializers/xls.py
@@ -52,10 +52,15 @@ class XLSSerializer(AbstractSerializer):
         return list(range(columns_count))
 
     def _decode_legacy(self, s, **kwargs):
-        filepath = s
+        options = {}
+        options["filename"] = s
+        options["logfile"] = kwargs.pop("logfile", None)
+        options["verbosity"] = kwargs.pop("verbosity", 0) or 0
+        options["use_mmap"] = kwargs.pop("use_mmap", False) or False
+        options["file_contents"] = kwargs.pop("file_contents", None)
 
         # load the worksheet
-        workbook = open_workbook(filename=filepath)
+        workbook = open_workbook(**options)
 
         # get sheet by index or by name
         sheet_index, sheet_name = self._get_sheet_index_and_name_from_options(**kwargs)
@@ -100,10 +105,15 @@ class XLSSerializer(AbstractSerializer):
         return items
 
     def _decode(self, s, **kwargs):
-        filepath = s
+        options = {}
+        options["filename"] = s
+        options["read_only"] = True
+        options["data_only"] = kwargs.pop("data_only", False)
+        options["keep_links"] = kwargs.pop("keep_links", True)
+        options["keep_vba"] = kwargs.pop("keep_vba", True)
 
         # load the worksheet
-        workbook = load_workbook(filename=filepath, read_only=True)
+        workbook = load_workbook(**options)
 
         # get sheet by index or by name
         sheet_index, sheet_name = self._get_sheet_index_and_name_from_options(**kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/github/test_issue_0355.py b/tests/github/test_issue_0355.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcc6536
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/github/test_issue_0355.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import pathlib
+import unittest
+
+from benedict import benedict
+
+
+class github_issue_0355_test_case(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    This class describes a github issue 0355 test case.
+    https://github.com/fabiocaccamo/python-benedict/issues/355
+
+    To run this specific test:
+    - Run python -m unittest tests.github.test_issue_0355
+    """
+
+    def test_from_xls_with_options(self):
+        # print(pathlib.Path("./test_issue_0144.json"))
+        filepath = pathlib.Path("tests/github/test_issue_0355.xlsx")
+
+        d = benedict.from_xls(filepath)
+        # print(d.dump())
+        self.assertEqual(
+            d,
+            {
+                "values": [
+                    {
+                        "formula": '="A2 value is: "&A2',
+                        "integer": 123,
+                        "text": "abc",
+                    }
+                ]
+            },
+        )
+
+        d = benedict.from_xls(filepath, data_only=True)
+        # print(d.dump())
+        self.assertEqual(
+            d,
+            {
+                "values": [
+                    {
+                        "formula": "A2 value is: abc",
+                        "integer": 123,
+                        "text": "abc",
+                    }
+                ]
+            },
+        )
diff --git a/tests/github/test_issue_0355.xlsx b/tests/github/test_issue_0355.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2efd9d9
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/github/test_issue_0355.xlsx differ